The popular kitchen herb cannot only be used for one year. The plant is easy to hibernate and, with proper care, will sprout again next year.

The tarragon can also survive the winter outdoors with a little protection

So that the perennial tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) can be harvested regularly, it should be cared for accordingly. Depending on the location, whether in a pot or in a bed, different care measures may be necessary. In the following we explain what needs to be considered.

Take care of tarragon: fertilize and water

Especially when the tarragon is grown in a pot, it needs to be watered carefully. It should never dry out completely. That's why it has to be watered occasionally if it's been planted out in the bed if the drought persists - especially because the tarragon only develops a very shallow root system. Therefore it does not reach the deep water reserves in the ground.

Tip: The young plants do not tolerate any competition for food. Therefore, they could be prevented from growing if other plants or herbs are in close proximity. For this reason weeding should be done all around.

Keep the bed clear around the tarragon because it is not competitive

The tarragon is a weak to medium feeder. Depending on where it is planted, its nutritional needs can be met in different ways:

For cultivation in pots, first of all a high-quality and rather moderately fertilized substrate is to be used. About every four to six weeks, a liquid fertilizer such as our Plantura organic indoor and green plant fertilizer should be used during the main growth phase of the tarragon until the end of June. As with our Organic Liquid Fertilizer, the lion's share of the nutrients should be provided organically, as sudden spikes in nutrients from a mineral source can affect the flavor of the tarragon - after all, it is grown for its flavor.

If the perennial herb is grown in a bed, it promotes growth if you add compost or a primarily organic long-term organic fertilizer such as our Plantura Bio-Universal fertilizer fertilizes.

In pot culture, the tarragon needs a little more attention and care

Cut tarragon

Since the tarragon tolerates pruning well, up to three prunings per year do not bother it if it is cultivated well and especially during long, vigorous growing seasons. The recurring shortening to the basal, i.e. close to the ground, wood causes young, aromatic herbs to sprout again and again. However, you should be careful not to cut too deep. Before the onset of winter, the tarragon is subjected to a half-height pruning. The cut shoots can be placed on the root ball as winter protection. In colder temperatures, foliage can also serve as cover. The next spring, fresh, young shoots will sprout again, which can be used in the kitchen. You can find out how to harvest and store the tarragon in our related article.

Split tarragon

Another important maintenance measure that should be carried out every three to four years is dividing and transplanting the herb. This serves to vitalize the plant and causes it to continue to grow vigorously and produce a lot of crops. For this purpose, the tarragon is dug up in early spring and the rootstock of the plant is divided using a sharp knife or spade. The individual pieces should be large enough and have at least two to three buds. These sections will now be planted at a new location and maintained normally.

If the tarragon is not divided, it will look for a new location by lowering it

Wintering: Is tarragon hardy?

All varieties of tarragon tolerate frost. The Russian tarragon is the hardiest, the French variety the most sensitive. While German tarragon can sustain frost damage, it is able to regenerate well. Therefore, take care of winter protection, especially for French tarragon.
Specimen that have been planted in the bed can be covered with brushwood, twigs or a protective layer of leaves. The materials should then be removed from around mid-April so that the heat and moisture do not trigger fungal diseases.
Plants that are cultivated in pots can either end up in winter at an optimum temperature of 10 °C be placed in as bright a place as possible. Also in this phase you should not forget to water. Another option is to leave the planters in place outside during the winterto let linger. They are wrapped with warming garden fleece or bubble wrap and thus insulated against the winter cold.

The withered plant parts of the tarragon offer additional protection in winter

Common diseases and pests

Basically, the tarragon is quite robust and has little to do with diseases and pests. Nevertheless, the following may appear in appropriate weather or certain conditions:

  • Powdery mildew: Due to prolonged periods of stress, the tarragon is particularly susceptible to mildew. A distinction must be made between powdery mildew (Erysiphaceae) and downy mildew (Peronosporaceae). The best conditions for powdery mildew to spread are dry and muggy-warm weather and strong temperature fluctuations between day and night. You can recognize it by a mealy-whitish coating on the parts of the plant that can be wiped off. Downy mildew, on the other hand, occurs more frequently in damp, cool weather. The infestation is shown by a rather gray coating on the underside of the leaf and yellowish-brown spots on the upper side of the leaf. To prevent both types of mildew, the planting distances should be observed and over-fertilization should be avoided. Plant parts that have already been infected should be removed and disposed of with household waste.
You can prevent powdery mildew with the right fertilization
  • Rust fungus (Pucciniales): The rust fungus occurs mainly in damp weather and in shady places. It is spread by water spray and wind. Preventive measures include maintaining a sufficiently large plant spacing and possibly crop rotation. Moderate nitrogen fertilization is also beneficial here. If your tarragon is infected with the rust fungus, it should be dug up and discarded immediately. Unfortunately, in this case there are no other means of control for the home garden.
The rust fungus is indicated by rust-brown, pustular spore deposits on the leaves
  • Aphids (Aphidoidea): The tarragon is not always spared by aphids. As a preventive measure against these pests, high nitrogen doses should be avoided, as they could promote infestation. In addition, it is of great benefit if the natural enemies of the pests, such as ladybugs, are already in the garden. If the plant is already exposed to an infestation, something should be done urgently. When treating the plant is important that when applyingof pesticides, only approved agents are used and the specified waiting times are observed.
    How to combat aphids is described in detail in our article. There are also various home remedies for aphids. A particularly effective control agent is our organic Plantura organic pest-free neem, which uses the 100% plant-based and partially systemic active ingredient to achieve a rapid effect against biting and sucking insects such as aphids.

Now that you know all about caring for the herb, you may also be interested in how tarragon can be propagated. You can find a detailed explanation of how to propagate in our special article.

Category:

Herbs